How BR Chopra’s Mahabharata Was Shot: Secrets Behind War Scenes and Krishna’s Vishwaroop
BR Chopra’s Mahabharata is one of the most famous TV shows in India. It first started on Doordarshan in 1988. Even today, many people love to watch it. People often wonder how the makers shot such big scenes without modern technology. They had to use very creative ideas for the war scenes and Lord Krishna’s Vishwaroop form. Here are the details of how they did it.
Where was Mahabharata filmed?
The makers shot more than half of the Mahabharata at Film City in Mumbai. However, they could not shoot the war scenes there. The team had to find a different place for the big battle sequences. They needed a location that looked like the olden days.
The location for the war scenes
The war scenes of Mahabharata were shot in Rajasthan, near the city of Jaipur. Finding this place was a very hard task for the team. BR Chopra’s daughter-in-law shared that they needed a very specific type of land. They wanted a place where there were no electricity poles. This is because electricity did not exist during the time of the Mahabharata. After searching for a long time, they found a huge open field near Jaipur.
Technology used for the war scenes
Most of the war scenes were filmed manually. The team did not have much help from advanced technology. However, they did use some special methods for certain effects. They used blue screen or chroma key technology. This helped them create grand scenes by mixing traditional filming with early special effects.
How the Vishwaroop scene was filmed
The Vishwaroop scene is very famous. In this scene, Lord Krishna shows his universal form to Arjuna. Nitish Bhardwaj, the actor who played Lord Krishna, explained how they shot it. They used a method called stop block photography. During the shoot, the camera did not move at all. They captured different forms of Krishna one by one. Later, they put all these shots together during the editing process.
The hard work of Nitish Bhardwaj
Filming the Vishwaroop scene was very difficult for Nitish Bhardwaj. He had to stay in the exact same position for a very long time. Sometimes, he stood still for up to four hours. To help him, the crew placed two wooden sticks under his hands between shots. This made sure his hands stayed in the right place. He also kept his eyes fixed on a person standing in front of him. This helped him return to the same position if he moved even a little bit.
Shooting Details at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Show Name | BR Chopra’s Mahabharata |
| Original Air Date | 1988 |
| Main Shooting Location | Film City, Mumbai |
| War Scene Location | Near Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Actor for Lord Krishna | Nitish Bhardwaj |
| Special Technique Used | Stop block photography and Chroma key |
| Standing Time for Vishwaroop | Up to 4 hours |
Conclusion
BR Chopra’s Mahabharata remains a masterpiece of Indian television. The makers and actors worked very hard to bring the epic story to life. By using creative filming methods like stop block photography and choosing the right locations in Rajasthan, they created scenes that people still remember today. The dedication of actors like Nitish Bhardwaj played a huge role in making the show a success.
FAQs
Where were the war scenes of Mahabharata shot?
The war scenes were shot in a large open field near Jaipur in Rajasthan because the area had no electricity poles.
What technique was used for the Vishwaroop scene?
The team used stop block photography where the camera stayed still while different forms were captured and edited together.
How long did Nitish Bhardwaj have to stand still for the Vishwaroop scene?
He had to stand in the same position for up to four hours, using wooden sticks to support his hands.